Color is a crutch. If a logo or a UI layout only looks good because you used a beautiful gradient, it is a fundamentally weak design.

The Silhouette Test

When designing a logo, always start in pure black and white. This forces you to focus entirely on shape, form, and negative space. If the silhouette isn't recognizable or balanced without color, you need to keep sketching.

Wireframing UI

The same applies to UI design. Wireframe your layouts in grayscale. This ensures your visual hierarchy (sizes, weights, and spacing) is doing the heavy lifting to guide the user's eye, rather than relying on bright red buttons to save a messy layout.

Conclusion

Color should be the final coat of polish on a structurally sound design, not the foundation it relies on.